Method and system for coating glass edges

Abstract

A process and system for applying coating materials to glass edges of various profiles. The glass edge is coated by picking up the coating material from an applicator such as, for example, a roller, through precise independent or relative control of the spatial relationship between the edge of the glass article and the applicator to achieve desirable product attributes such as coating thickness, profile, coverage areas and consistency. Such spatial relationships include the gap distance between the roller and applicator, coating thickness on the applicator, applicator and/or glass speed, and the like.

1 . A method of coating at least one edge of at least one glass article, the at least one glass article having a first surface, a second surface and at least one edge joining the first surface and the second surface, the at least one edge defining the perimeter of the glass article, the method comprising:
 applying a layer of the coating material to a surface of at least one applicator; contacting the at least one edge of the at least one glass article with the coating material on the surface; and   articulating at least one of the at least one glass article and the at least one applicator to coat the at least one edge with the coating material.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of articulating at least one of the at least one glass article and the at least one applicator comprises continuously articulating the at least one glass article. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the layer of the coating material has a thickness, and wherein contacting the at least one edge with the coating material comprises forming a predetermined gap between the at least one edge and the surface of the at least one applicator, wherein the predetermined gap is less than or equal to the thickness. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coating material is a curable resin. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising curing the resin coating the at least one edge. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one edge has a chamfered profile, a bullnose profile, or a flat profile. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein articulating the at least one glass article comprises articulating the at least one glass article in at least one of a vertical direction and a horizontal direction with respect to the surface of the at least one applicator. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein articulating at least one of the at least one glass article and the at least one applicator comprises rotating the at least one glass article with respect to the surface of the at least one applicator. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising articulating at least one of the at least one glass article and the at least one applicator along a linear axis. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a shape of the perimeter of the at least one glass article and articulating the at least one article based upon the shape. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein articulating at least one of the at least one glass article and the at least one applicator comprises articulating at least one of the at least one glass article and the at least one applicator by means of a pivoting arm. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one applicator comprises a rotatable roller. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the layer of the coating material to the surface of the at least one applicator comprises metering the coating material that is applied to the surface of the at least one applicator. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein metering the coating material comprises doctor blading the coating material onto the surface of the at least one applicator. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one glass article comprises a plurality of glass articles, the plurality of stacked articles being stacked such that the first surfaces of the plurality of glass articles are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein adjacent glass articles are separated by an interleaf material. 
     
     
         17 . A method of coating an edge of at least one glass article with a curable resin, the at least one glass article having a first surface, a second surface and an edge joining the first surface and the second surface, the edge defining the perimeter of the at least one glass article, the method comprising:
 determining a shape of the perimeter;   applying a layer of the curable resin to a surface of at least one applicator;   contacting the edge of the at least one glass article with the layer of the curable resin on the surface of the at least one applicator; and   continuously articulating at least one of the at least one glass article and the at least one applicator based upon the shape determined to coat the edge with the curable resin.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising curing the curable resin coating the edge. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the layer of the curable resin on the surface of the at least one applicator surface has a thickness, and contacting the edge with the curable resin comprises forming a predetermined gap between the edge and the surface of the at least one applicator, wherein the predetermined gap is less than or equal to the thickness. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the edge has a chamfered profile, a bullnose profile, or a flat profile. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein articulating at least one of the at least one glass article and the at least one applicator comprises articulating the at least one glass article in at least one of a vertical direction and a horizontal direction with respect to the surface of the at least one applicator. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein articulating at least one of the at least one glass article and the at least one applicator comprises rotating the at least one glass article with respect to the surface of the at least one applicator. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising articulating at least one of the at least one glass article and the at least one applicator along a linear axis. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein articulating at least one of the at least one glass article and the at least one applicator comprises articulating at least one of the at least one glass article and the at least one applicator by means of a pivoting arm. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one applicator comprises a rotatable roller. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein applying the layer of the coating material to the surface of the at least one applicator comprises metering the coating material that is applied to the surface of the at least one applicator. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein metering the coating material comprises doctor blading the coating material onto the surface of the at least one applicator. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one glass article comprises a plurality of glass articles, the plurality of stacked articles being stacked such that the first surfaces of the plurality of glass articles are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein adjacent glass articles are separated by an interleaf material. 
     
     
         30 . A system for depositing a coating on at least one edge of at least one glass article, the system comprising a coating application station, the application station comprising at least one applicator, wherein the at least one applicator has a surface that is adapted to hold a coating material; and
 a holder adapted to hold and support the at least one glass article such that the at least one edge contacts the coating material, wherein at least one of the at least one applicator and the holder is capable of articulation in at least one of a horizontal direction, a vertical direction, and about an axis of rotation.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising a visual inspection station for characterizing a perimeter of the glass article. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising a curing station for curing the coating that is applied to the at least one edge. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one applicator is movable by means of a pivotal arm. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one applicator comprises a rotatable roller. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one applicator comprises a feed system for supplying the coating material to the at least one applicator and a doctor blade for metering an amount of the coating material provided to the at least one applicator.